Who Is Really Deciding? AI and Clinical Judgement in Dentistry

ABSTRACT: The integration of AI in dental practice, primarily through AI-enabled software, influences clinical workflows by promoting rapid decision-making and potentially increasing bias stemming from its automation bias. While these systems demonstrate high accuracy in standardised evaluations, their real-world performance, particularly in atypical cases, remains less validated. This reliance on AI necessitates a broader AI literacy in clinicians, focusing on ethical awareness and critical judgement rather than solely technical proficiency. Ongoing evaluation of AI systems must encompass their impact on clinical reasoning, and dental education should prepare professionals to discern when to slow down their intuitive judgements in response to algorithmic insights to enhance clinical accountability and trust.